Protest to Nigerian High Commissioner by OutRage!
Six young girls, one as young as 12, have been sentenced to 90 strokes of the cane following accusations of lesbianism.

The girls were found guilty by a local vigilance group in Twon-Brass in Nigeria's Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta.

There are concerns that the young girls had no legal representation at the local disciplinary hearing where they were found guilty and sentenced.

A letter of protest has been delivered to the Nigerian High Commissioner in London, Dr Christopher Kolade, by Peter Tatchell of the LGBT human rights group OutRage!

His letter to the High Commissioner states:

"I urge you to call on officials to intervene to halt the planned caning of six teenage girls, aged 12 to 17, on charges of lesbianism.

"The punishment of 90 strokes amounts to inhumane treatment, and is contrary to the UN Convention Against Torture 1984.

"It is particularly appalling that girls of such a young age have been sentenced to such a severe and cruel punishment. Ninety strokes of the cane will cause severe skin wounds, bruising and scarring.

"I respectfully ask the Nigerian government to ensure the protection of human rights in all the states and towns in its jurisdiction," wrote Mr Tatchell.

The full transcript of the OutRage! letter to the Nigerian High Commissioner follows below.

According to the South African Press Association and Deutsche Press-Agentur, as reported on News24.com on 14 October 2005:

"A local disciplinary committee on Thursday (13 October) in the Niger Delta ordered the caning of six teenage girls for unspecified same-sex behaviour that was described as an "abominable act".

A local vigilance group in Twon-Brass in Nigeria's Bayelsa state arraigned the girls before a special local action committee, and they were pronounced guilty on Thursday. The girls, between 12 and 17-years-old, were sentenced to 90 strokes of the cane each for their "shameful and abominable act".

The vigilance group said one of the convicts confessed to the crime and said a friend whose name she gave as Felicia introduced her into lesbianism. Felicia is still at large."

Protest to:

Dr Christopher Kolade
Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK
Nigerian High Commission
9 Northumberland Avenue
London WC2N 5BX
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Copy of the OutRage! letter to the Nigerian High Commissioner:

Dr Christopher Kolade
Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK
Nigerian High Commission
9 Northumberland Avenue
London WC2N 5BX

23 October 2005

Your Excellency,

Caning of young girls on charges of lesbianism in Bayelsa state I request your urgent representation to the federal government of  Nigeria, the state government of Bayelsa and to local officials in the area of Twon-Brass.

I urge you to call on officials to intervene to halt the planned caning of six teenage girls, aged 12 to 17, on charges of lesbianism.

There are concerns that the young girls had no legal representation at the local disciplinary hearing where they were found guilty and sentenced.

The punishment of 90 strokes amounts to inhumane treatment, and is contrary to the UN Convention Against Torture 1984.

It is particularly appalling that girls of such a young age have been sentenced to such a severe and cruel punishment. Ninety strokes of the cane will cause severe skin wounds, bruising and scarring.

I respectfully ask the Nigerian government to ensure the protection of human rights in all the states and towns in its jurisdiction.

According to the South African Press Association and Deutsche Press-Agentur, as reported on News24.com on 14 October 2005:

"A local disciplinary committee on Thursday in the Niger Delta ordered the caning of six teenage girls for unspecified same-sex behaviour that was described as an "abominable act".

A local vigilance group in Twon-Brass in Nigeria's Bayelsa state arraigned the girls before a special local action committee, and they were pronounced guilty on Thursday. The girls, between 12 and 17-years-old, were sentenced to 90 strokes of the cane each for their "shameful and abominable act". The vigilance group said one of the convicts confessed to the crime and said a friend whose name she gave as Felicia introduced her into lesbianism. Felicia is still at large."

Regardless of people's personal view of lesbianism, international human rights norms require respect for a person's right to privacy and to non-discrimination.

Sexual relations are private matters and not legitimate grounds for state interference when they have been consensual and when none of participants have complained.

I urge your government to adopt a policy of live and let live.

Thank you for your response at the earliest possibility.

Peter Tatchell
OutRage! - The Lesbian & Gay Human Rights Campaign

PO Box 17816
London SW14 8WT

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